CAR: Clashes reported in Bria August 22

Event

Clashes broke out between anti-Balaka and ex-Seleka militants in Bria on Tuesday, August 22. Details of the incident are still emerging, and the number of casualties has not yet been confirmed, however, Central African Republic (CAR) authorities have stated that approximately 300 people have been killed in similar clashes across the country since June 2017.

A heightened security presence in the region should be expected and further clashes cannot be ruled out in the coming days.

Context

Religious conflicts have ravaged CAR since December 2013. Despite a ceasefire signed between 13 rebel groups and the government on June 19 of this year, clashes remain frequent throughout the country. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of deaths, created almost 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), and pushed more than 500,000 people to seek refuge in the neighboring countries of Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Chad.

Bria - located approximately 580 km (360 mi) northeast of the capital Bangui - has been under the control of The Popular Front for the Rebirth of Central African Republic (FPRC) since mid-June, when the group carried out an attack against Bria residents that killed at least 50 individuals and resulted in the vast majority of inhabitants fleeing their homes. Nearly 90 percent of Bria's 45,000 inhabitants have yet to return.

Advice

Many Western governments advise against travel to CAR due to these and other security concerns. Travel should only be considered with proper security protocols in place.